Vehicle direction-signal



E LICUTHBEHTSON. VEHICLE DIRECTED? SIGNAL, APPLICATION man FEB. 2, 1920.

Patnued June 28, 1921.

UNITED STATES v PATENT, OFFICE.

EARL L. cUrI BEn'rsoN, or ALTON, ILLINOIS.

VEHICLE DIRECTION-SIGNAL.

I the following is a full, clear, and exact dein the art to which it appertains to make I scription, such as will enable others skilled and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingv drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in signal devices, and consists in the novel details of construction more fully "set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a signaling or indicating device which w ll consist of folding leaves or fingers so dlsposed as to simulate when in operation a pointed hand.

A further object is to provide such. device that may be folded or collapsed when not in operation so that it will not be visible. Further objects are to provide a signal device that may be simply controlled; one that is simple in construction, may be cheaply manufactured, and possessing other advantages more fully apparent from the detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the signaling device in operative position; and,

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of said device. o I The invention as illustrated in the drawing consists of laterally extending members or fingers 1, 2, 3 and 4, said members being arranged in superposed relation, their outer ends overlappmg so that when in operative position, these fingers will give the impression of a pointed hand. The outer ends of the fingers are pivotally connectedby links 5, 6 and 7, and the inner' ends of the intermediate fingers are pivotally connected to the outer fingers by means of a single link 8. The outer, or u per and lower fingers, 1 and 4, are pivota 1y connected at 9. and 10 to a channel shaped standard 11. On the upper part of standard 11 isformed an ear 12 on which is mounted a pulley 13 and a cable 14 is adapted to traverse said pulley. One end of the cable 14 is secured to the upper finger 1 near the pivot 9, the opposite Specification of Letters Patent. Pate t d J 2 1 Applicationfiled-February 2, 1920. Serial No. 355,552.

end of said cable extending to another point from which it is desired to control the movements of the fingers. The fingers 2, 3 and 4 in addition to being disposed beneath the finger l are offset therefrom (see Fig. 2), the purpose of which will presently appear, sa1d ofiset being accomplished by means. of spacing washers 5, -6, 7 on said fingers 2, 3 and 4, respectively Obviously, this offset is carried the full length of the fingers, thus requiring similar-spacing washers 5, 6 and 7" on the lnner ends of the fingers 2, 3 and the intermediate connection of finger 4. Because of offset the finger 1 will be in close proximity to one side of the channel standard 11, while the finger 4 will be in close prox- 1m 1ty to theopposite side of said standard, said fingers being maintained in their proper position by means of suitable spacing washers 9 and 10'. before stated, when the signal is in operation, the fingers project outwardly from the standard 11 in a substantially horizontal plane; but when the signal is not in operation, it is desirable to conceal said fingers from sight. by merely releasing the cable 14, whereupon said fingers will drop under the force of gravity, fingers 1 and 4 swinging on their pivotal connections 9 and 10 and the intermediate fingers 2 and 3 folding between said fingers 1 and 4 by virtue of their pivotal connecting links and offset relation; the folded position of the fingers being shown dotted in Fig. 1, and their paths of travel being shown by dotted arcs described from their respective pivotal centers.

Obviously, the above described signal service may be availed of wherever signaling is desirable, but I have contemplated that the invention is primarily applicable for motor and other vehicles. When the invention isus'ed on a motor vehicle, it is desirable that two of my improved signaling devices be used, one being secured to each side of the, vehicle, the object of which is to enable the driver of said vehicle to indicate the direction in which he wishes to turn by raising the device on that side; or,

if he wishes to go straight ahead, neither of the devices would be operated, and, should he desire to stop both of said devices would be raised, thus indicating his intention to the traffic.

7 In order that the device may be more readily seen at night, the fingers 1 to 4, inclusive, may be coated with luminous paint, or the like. a

The invention is susceptible of minor changes in details of construction which would fall within the scope of my invention, and of which I wish to avail myself.

What I claim is: r r

1. A signal device comprising a standard, a pair of fingers pivotally connected to said standard, a series of fingers positioned between said pair of fingers and pivotally con nected thereto, and means forraising and lowering said fingers.

2. A signal device'comorising a standard, a pair of fingers pivotally connected to said standard and spaced apart with reference to a vertical plane, additional fingers disposed between said first mentioned fingers in superposed'relation, all of said fingersbeing pivotally connected together and offset one from the other with reference to a horizontal plane, and means for raising and lowering said fingers.

v3. A signal device comprising a channel shaped standard, a pair of fingers pivotally connected to said standard, additional fingerspivotally connected to said pair of fingers, means for raising and lowering said fingers, and said fingers being so arranged relatively one to the other that they will nest within the channel shaped standard when in lowered position, V

4:. A signal device comprising a standard, a pair of fingers pivotally connected to said sta'ndard in spaced apart relation,-additional fingers positioned between the aforesaid pair of fingers, a series of links pivotally connecting the outer ends of the adjacent fingers, a single link pivotally connecting the inner ends of the intermediate fingerswith the aforesaid pair of fingers at a point intermediate their ends, a pulley mounted on the standard above said fingers, and a cable traversing said pulley and'connected to the uppermost finger. a V

In'testimonywhereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 28th day of January, 1920.

EARL L. CUTHBERTSON. 

